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OneStream Study Reveals AI Skills Gap and Gender Divide in Corporate Finance Careers
A OneStream study finds a growing AI skills gap in corporate finance, with confidence dropping among experienced pros and a notable gender divide. Many professionals see AI training as key to future success.
OneStream Study Highlights AI Skills Gap in Corporate Finance
Corporate finance professionals face growing pressure as AI tools become standard in their work. A recent study by OneStream, a leader in enterprise finance management, surveyed over 2,500 finance professionals and students in the US and UK. It sheds light on how AI is reshaping finance careers and points to significant skill gaps and generational divides.
Two-thirds (66%) of current finance professionals say they use AI at work. Meanwhile, 86% of all respondents expect to use AI tools at least somewhat often during their careers, with one-third anticipating heavy reliance on AI. Despite this, confidence in AI skills decreases with experience: 89% of finance students feel ready to use AI, but only 54% of professionals with over 10 years of experience share this confidence.
More than half of professionals (57%) report a technology gap between generations, driven by varying AI skills (44%), rapid tech changes (44%), and concerns about AI replacing tasks (40%). This gap challenges organizations aiming to keep pace with evolving finance demands.
Closing the AI & Gender Gap in Finance
The study also reveals a gender gap in AI adoption and confidence. Men report higher AI usage at work (71%) compared to women (61%). Among younger professionals, 69% of men feel prepared to use AI, while only 56% of women agree. Female finance students show less confidence too, with only 65% feeling ready versus 93% of male students.
Notably, 30% of young women see AI and automation as their biggest career challenge in the next decade. These findings point to a need for targeted support and training to help close this gap and empower women in finance to leverage AI effectively.
Finance Careers: Expectations vs. Reality
Finance remains attractive for its stability, salary, and clear growth path. Among all respondents, 63% cite job stability, 57% high salary, and 55% career growth as top motivators. Yet, students expect lighter workloads and less burnout than professionals experience.
Nearly 80% of students expect to work under 40 hours weekly, while 58% of current professionals report working 40+ hours. Over half (57%) of professionals have faced burnout, identifying work-life balance (44%) and burnout (35%) as key reasons for turnover.
Only half of current professionals believe graduates are ready for finance job realities. They emphasize the need for technical skills (22%), strong work ethic (21%), and business strategy/problem solving (20%) as critical for new hires.
Preparing Finance Teams for AI Integration
Finance teams must equip themselves with the right tools and training to keep up with AI’s growing role. Early investment in AI education and modern finance practices can reduce burnout and improve strategic decision-making.
For finance professionals looking to boost their AI skills, exploring practical AI courses can be a valuable step. Resources like Complete AI Training's finance-focused courses offer targeted learning paths designed to build relevant skills efficiently.
Survey Methodology
The study surveyed 2,504 respondents, including corporate finance professionals and finance students from the US and UK. It was conducted online from March 24 to April 21, 2025.
About OneStream
OneStream provides an enterprise finance platform that unifies financial and operational data, embedding AI to improve planning, forecasting, and decision-making. Trusted by over 1,600 customers including 17% of the Fortune 500, OneStream aims to modernize the Office of the CFO and support finance teams in driving strategic business outcomes.